Interview with Producer of WTF! - Steve Parker

From
prolific producers Steve Parker and Jody Parker and director Peter
Herro comes WTF!,
a love letter to classic horror films arriving via Midnight Releasing
on August 1.

Three
years ago, twenty-two year old girl-next-door Rachel (Ott) barely
survived a brutal massacre that left her friends in pieces. Time has
passed, Rachel has moved on, but unfortunately history has a way of
repeating itself. 

Her close friends are spending spring break in a
secluded house in the woods, and they have cordially invited her to
join. Little does she realize that another bloodbath will be showing
up as plus one. Once Rachel and her friends arrive at the cabin, the
partying, sex, and terror begins.

We
caught up with Steve Parker to get the 411 on WTF!

How
long of a journey has this been for the WTF! Producing team? How did
it come about?

Over
three years ago Peter brought us the script, and we sent him back to
writing with a lot of notes. When he came back a year later, the
script worked. Six months later we wrapped production, and then we
spent two years in post. We were busy on major projects (Beverly
Hills Lizard People, and the
best-selling Belgian book series The
Dark Numbers) and this was
simple enough and Peter was going to do the line producing.

What
was the appeal for you?

It
was a cute little script, and had great potential.

Was
it shot in your neck of the woods?

I’m
the weirdo—I’m San Francisco-based. The production was in L.A.,
and even my business partner Jody Wheeler is based there.

Do
you imagine a much different series had a major studio got hold of
it?

I
think they’d have re-written the details to fit marketing wisdom.

How
would you describe the tone?

It’s
a very Cabin in the Woods
kind of setting where you gradually become aware how creepy and
isolated a place you are.

Tell
us about the cast….

We
found a great cast of newcomers. Callie Ott (Rachel) has a previous
feature credit, but for everyone else it was a first feature
opportunity. They’re talented, attractive and you’ll be seeing
more from the all. Andrea Hunt has a role in the up-coming Awaken
the Shadowman, for example.

How
has advances in technology opened up doors for filmmakers?

Shot
on a RED Scarlet, there are really great cameras and the ability to
do VFX and other post magic at low cost helps us make movies that
look like a million dollars for a small fraction of that budget.

Can
you tell us about your next film?

We’re
planning to shoot Beverly Hills
Lizard People in spring of
next year in Vancouver. An extension of the L.A. subway into Beverly
Hills disturbs the underground lair of the lizard people who live
beneath it. It should be fun! Look for parodies of the current
administration’s cabinet! Kelly-Ann lizard?

WTF!
Is available August 1st on Cable VOD and Digital HD